Method for rescue and recovery of incapacitated persons

Abstract

A method for a two person rescue team to rescue an incapacitated person from a hazardous environment includes a wheeled platform with a contoured recess shaped to accommodate an air pack. The platform is sufficiently low to the ground so that a transported person, as well as the rescue personnel can be kept below the heat in an inflamed building. The platform straddles a water hose which is used as an escape path by the rescue team to extract the incapacitated person.

Claims

1. A method of rescue and recovery of incapacitated persons from a hazardous space comprising the steps of: providing a lightweight wheeled platform capable of supporting a person, including: a plurality of wheel assemblies for rolling on the ground; a top surface encircling a longitudinally positioned opening contoured to restrict admittance to an air pack and permit passage therethrough, and wherein the opening tapers to an exit in the direction of the ground when the wheels of the platform are in contact with the ground, and wherein ground clearance of the platform is sufficient to straddle a firefighter's expanded water line; transporting of the platform to an incapacitated person within a hazardous space; moving the incapacitated person into a position suitable to receive and retain the platform, and fitting the opening to the incapacitated person's back, and around an air pack if one is present; moving the platform with the incapacitated person into a horizontal disposition with the wheel assemblies in contact with the ground; and, rolling the incapacitated person out of the hazardous space along a predetermined path to an exit wherein the predetermined path includes a firefighter's water line maintained adjacent the wheels of the platform when exiting.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the wheeled platform straddles the water line when exiting along the predetermined path.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the top surface of the platform is curved at the periphery to cup a human torso.

4. A method of rescue and recovery of incapacitated persons from a hazardous space comprising the steps of: providing a lightweight wheeled platform capable of supporting an incapacitated person, including: a plurality of wheel assemblies for rolling on the ground; a substantially rectangular top surface with a longitudinally positioned opening encircled by the top surface and contoured to restrict admittance to an air pack therethrough, wherein ground clearance of the platform is sufficient to straddle a firefighter's expanded water line, and wherein the top surface of the platform is curved at the periphery to cup a human torso; a fastening means to securely retain the incapacitated person in a supine position atop the platform; transporting the platform to an incapacitated person within a hazardous space; moving the incapacitated person into a position suitable to receive and retain the platform, and fitting the opening to the incapacitated person's back, and around an air pack if one is present; moving the platform with the incapacitated person into a horizontal disposition with the wheel assemblies in contact with the ground; and, rolling the incapacitated person out of the hazardous space along a predetermined path to an exit wherein the predetermined path includes a firefighter's water line maintained adjacent the wheels of the platform when exiting.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the wheeled platform straddles the water line when exiting along the predetermined path.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of the platform with a contoured and tapering recess for the acceptance of an air tank;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the bottom of the platform with wheels in collapsed position;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of one embodiment according to the present invention with non-folding wheels;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment according to the present invention having an enclosed recess with brackets set therein;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment with a rectangular recess;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment according to the present invention attached to the air tank of a rescue team member;

(7) FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment according to the present invention wherein a rescue teem is positioning the platform over and around the air pack of a downed firefighter.

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates the downed firefighter placed in supine position atop the present invention in which the wheels of the platform are shown straddling a water hose 34 connected to a water source outside of the IDLH;

(9) FIG. 9 shows a detail view of a collapsible wheel assembly with bracket 26 partially cutaway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference Listing

(10) 10 platform 12 contoured opening 14 side slits 18 safety belt 20 collapsible wheel assemblies 21 spring clamps 24 fork 26 U-bracket 28 pivoting cam 32 stay 33 shaft 34 water hose
Definitions

(11) IDLH designates an environment that is immediately dangerous to life or health. Thermal layer refers to the tendency of gasses to form in layers according to temperatures of up to 1200 F and under which fire fighting personnel attempt to operate. The term platform refers to a body of light weight and heat resistant material that may be formed by thermoforming methods, vacuum forming or molding or stamping. The terms rigid light weight heat-resistant material refers generally to those materials comprised of resin and fiber such as fiber glass as well as carbon fiber. Not excluded in this definition would be those thermoplastics used in vacuum forming such as KYDEX GND thermoplastic alloy sheet or aluminum alloys. The term laterally bowed spring clamp refer to a class of generally U-shaped clamps where a cylindrical object is secured by pressing the object between the arms of the spring clamp whereby the arms are forced apart to allow the object to seat and thus inhibiting lateral movement of the seated cylindrical object. The term air pack refers to any of the SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) or CCBA (closed circuit breathing apparatus) used by rescue works and firefighters and manufactured by Scott Health and Safety, MSA and others. Unless otherwise explained, any technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The singular terms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word or is intended to include and unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of this disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described below. The term comprises means includes. Publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein, if any, are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. In case of conflict, the instant specification, including explanations of terms, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

(12) FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention including platform 10, a contoured tapered opening 12 and side slits 14 for hand holds or attachment of safety belts 18 (FIG. 3). The platform is preferably constructed of a rigid light weight heat-resistant material such as vacuum formed thermoplastic, carbon fiber or aluminum alloy, though a wide range of materials such as wood laminate may be used. Methods of manufacture conceived for the platform are common and well understood in the art and may consist of additive processes such a layered fiber glass and resin compositions, pour molding and injection molding.

(13) Fire and rescue departments tend to be standardized as to types of air packs employed, there being some variety on the market such as MSA, Scott air packs ad others. Because forms of the various air packs vary with the manufacturer a fire rescue team would select the appropriate contoured opening to match their equipment. Although the tapered opening 12 shown in FIG. 1 is designed to fit around a Scott air pack, some of the newer CCBA air packs are substantially rectangular and it follows that the opening could take that shape or any other as required. Tapered contours for a particular make and model of air pack are obtained at design time by taking measurements of the air pack with associated hoses and connectors while being worn. Allowances are made for movement of the various elements so that the air pack is funneled into a stable position when the platform opening is placed over it.

(14) FIG. 2 shows the underside of the platform with wheels in collapsed position, important for storage on rescue vehicles with little available space. While collapsible wheel assemblies 20 are preferred, axed wheel assemblies off such as shown in FIG. 3 will operate effectively and may offer some cost advantages in manufacture. One non-limiting example of a collapsible wheeled assembly is shown in FIG. 9, in which a cutaway view shows a single fork 24 and pivot cam 28 affixed by shaft 33 within a U-bracket 26 wherein pivoting cam 28 is releasably lockable in an extended position, wheels outward, by means of a spring tensioned stay 32 slid into a recess in the pivot cam preventing movement; and collapsed by pulling knob 30 removing the stay from the recess and folding the fork and wheel 24, 22 inward toward the platform. Another possibility (not shown) is that of wheels with independent suspension such as are used in some off-road vehicles or all terrain vehicles (ATV).

(15) FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the platform according to the present invention with a rectangular opening. An enclosed recess can be used with some of the older air packs with larger air tanks. Recess 12a in the body of the platform 10 receives the air tank and laterally bowed spring clamps 21 affixed to the bottom of the recess secure the air tank. Although the means to attach the spring clamps is shown as a nut and bolt 25, 23, the clamps can be molded into the recess, or the recess molded to assume an arcuate shape similar to the spring clamps to receive an air tank without affecting the function. FIG. 5 shows a rectangular opening 12b with an exit that would be suitable for some recent modular CCBA'S that are rectangular in shape.

(16) FIGS. 7-8 show the apparatus being fitted respectively, to the back of a downed firefighter encompassing the air pack. The downed firefighter is lowered into a supine position atop the platform. The water hose 34 is shown preferentially running under and between the wheels so that the rescue personnel can use it as a guide to exiting the IDLH environment.

(17) In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Therefore, this disclosure is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included in the spirit and scope of the description in view of the appended drawings and claims.